Drift of TRITON Buoy No.18

Today, TRITON Buoy (*1) No.18 (Appendix) belongs to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC: Yasuhiro Kato, President) has been confirmed drifting away from its mooring point, at Tropical Indian Ocean.

1. Current condition

At 11:55, July 5 (Japan Time), the buoy is drifting 15km south from its deployed point of 1.5°N, 90°E. Equipped satellite communication system works well and we are keeping track of the buoy location.

2. Possible cause

Parts such as a sensor had been stolen from TRITON Buoy No.18 several times before. It is considered that the buoy was towed by a ship forcibly and resulted to be drifted away.

3. Future plan

We have already asked the Japan Coast Guard to warn ships and vessels around the area about the danger of a collision or interference by the drifting buoy. We are now discussing about recovering method and time.

*1 : TRITON Buoy:
TRITON Buoy is the oceanographic observation buoy deployed mainly around the equator (some are deployed in the Indian Ocean) by JAMSTEC.
It observes wind, atmospheric temperature, humidity, precipitation, insolation and current. Observed data is provided through satellite, and contribute to the study of El Ninő and Dipole Mode Phenomenon and the accuracy of climate prediction such as typhoon onset.